Kaizer Chiefs striker blaming supply for him not scoring his 50th goal

Kaizer Chiefs’ Bernard Parker believes that he should’ve hit 50 goals sooner than he has, suggesting that with better supply he might have been able to do so.

Parker, who is approaching his 32nd birthday, joined the Amakhosi back in 2011 on his return from Europe, but only managed to reach his half-century of goals over the weekend when he scored against Free State Stars.

Only once during his seven seasons has ‘Die Hond’ managed to hit double figures for the Glamour Boys, and he admits that it has taken him longer than we would’ve liked.

He told the club’s official website, “I have achieved something great. It’s a good achievement, although I am not entirely happy because with my standards and quality I would have wanted to have reached this milestone earlier.

“I am now in my seventh season at Chiefs… To score 50 goals is great, but it’s not enough, especially when looking at what is the going rate of scoring in Europe, as that’s the top level and that’s where the standard is set.”

He did suggest that with better supply, he might have scored more, saying, “A striker is dependent on the balls he gets provided with. If you don’t get the right balls, you can’t score or you are unable to put the ball in the back of the net often enough.

“In general, strikers score one out of three goalscoring opportunities they get, that’s 33.3%. Scoring is also about applying the correct technique, even when being put under heavy pressure by the defenders. It’s all about that technique.

“How many kids get taught about the technique needed to score goals? That’s where it starts and we can only solve our lack of scoring in the PSL if we go back to the basics, which is at the youth development level. That’s where the foundation is laid.”

Meanwhile, looking to the future, he added, “While still at Chiefs I want to score a lot more. I want to leave a legacy at the club and to be remembered like some of those other great strikers that played for Amakhosi.”

Parker has played 208 domestic games for Chiefs, averaging a goal every 4.2 games.